(6-10) Prayer for mercy and grace. Sadly, many use God like Aladdins Genie and put Him back on the shelf when they get what they want. Clearly this was one of the reasons why David was a man after Gods own heart. Why does the author believe the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed? Many shall see it, and fear: (compare Deut. 40:9; 41:27; 52:7 60:6; 61:1), is the precursor of the New Testament terminology for the gospel and preaching the gospel, i.e., announcing the good news. It falls into two sections. In the first half (40:1-10), David tells how God got him out of one pit and he sings Gods praise for doing so. But he did not then live happily ever after. Rather, it is evident from the second half of the psalm (40:11-17) that he is in another pit, crying out to the Lord to deliver him from this one. The application for us is that when were in a pit, we must focus on continuing to obey the Lord, even if He does not deliver us quickly. But youve got to direct your mind to think about the right things. They dont recognize or admit any personal weakness. Im doomed! you will either panic or turn to the world for help. Imagery engages the readers senses to draw them more deeply into the writing. As the language of the Messiah, it was in every way an appropriate prayer that the purposes of those who would defeat his design in coming into the world might be foiled. I heard recently that a meteorite came uncomfortably close to earth. So that I am not able to look up: This is not the exact idea of the Hebrew word. October 2022 January 2023 In verse 4, David writes, How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. When youre in a pit, its very easy, even if you profess to trust in the Lord at other times, to grab onto any seeming way of escape, even if it means compromising your faith. But we need God to help us out of these pits. But it would be far more applicable to the circumstances in which the Redeemer was placed. Psalm 40 The Servant Comes to Do Gods Will. This can prophetically be speaking of Jesus, who brought salvation to the world. And shall trust in the Lord: Shall confide in God. We were mired in our sins with no way out. Also, such as these who do not trust in Christ and have no respect; they neither esteem them, nor imitate them. They chart a profound and vital relationship with God, with all the ups and downs that When what was written was finished, it was rolled about a stick in the manner of a cylinder; and in this form is the book of the law with the Jews to this day (see notes on Luke 4:17). The problem, I believe, is that we do not believe God is this active in our lives. 10:5-10). The movie was full of biblical imagery. The Word of God created the universe and everything in it for a habitation for man. We know that some said, surely this was the Son of God. You dont need a Savior unless you are helpless at the bottom of a slimy pit. There never was a more horrible place to be, than when our Lord took our sin upon His body on the cross. In times past, I might have thought that an offering was the proper thing to do. Some read these words as expressive of faith in these things, thou wilt not withhold, etc. What happened to the soldiers, when Jesus answered them (I am He)? Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.. It is a psalm of David, a shepherd, and king of Israel, and it is a powerful testimony to the goodness and faithfulness of God. What does the statement (mine ears hast thou opened) mean? Immediately, at once, without any delay; and he himself, and not another. This, though in a general sense it may be true of David and of all Gods people, yet if it be compared with the foregoing verse. The worst evil that Jesus had against Him was the unbelieving leaders of the temple. How does God make me to know the measure of my days (Psalm 39:4). Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but Gods kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. As applied to the Redeemer, this would refer to the fact that in his sorrows, in the deep sorrows connected with the work of redemption, he persevered in calling on God, and that God heard him, and raised him up to glory and joy (see Matt. Psalm 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,. We must look to Jesus from whence cometh our help. Whether this psalm is connected to any of the previous psalms where David asked for Gods deliverance is unknown, but it does say that God did deliver him at one time, and David was sure to express his gratitude in the best method he knew: a song of praise. 17:7). Your pit could be poor health, the loss of your job, former friends that turned against you, an unfaithful mate, rebellious children, or any other overwhelming problem. What does it mean to commit your way to the Lord (Psalm 37:5)? Imagery is the art of creating mental images through descriptive words. David beseeches God, whose loving-kindness is so great (verse 10), not to withhold from him those tender mercies which he lavishes so freely. But more important, God can do something about our lives. September 2021 Many times our pit is dealing with failure. Davids psalms furnish a running commentary on these statements. He also pointed to Gods desire for a relationship with humans. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive language to create a mental snapshot for the reader. If we have set our heart to desire to be like God, it is a devastating thing to continue to fail. Perhaps our problem many times, is that we tire of waiting. The LORD be magnified for ever more. How true this was of the Redeemer, that the Lord, the Father of mercies; thought on him. Not only can God get us through, God can make things better than they were before. The proud and liars are just about in the same boat. As David turns his cries to the Lord, the Lord responds by turning to David, noticing his plight and hearing his cry. In verse 1, David mentions his cry, which may have been as simple as, Help, Lord! In verse 13, he directly cries out, Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; make haste, O Lord, to help me. In verse 17, he repeats, Since I am afflicted and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me. That is simply, I am not able to see; and it refers to the dimness or failure of sight caused by distress, weakness, or old age (1 Sam. I love the Scripture that says, Jesus sang a song with the disciples. June 2022 He can change our circumstances. Ive been thinking about some of the Psalms that use imagery from nature to describe Gods power. It may not have been easy, but we made it because the Lord was there for us. 3:3-4; 2 Tim. The nations sought to storm the city but Yahweh scattered them in His wrath. August 2022 Psalm 40:4-6 is a celebration of Gods character. That is, in this case, the desolation prayed for would be a proper recompence for their purpose, or for what they said. Jesus formally preached three and one half years while He was on the earth. Prayers for a Present Situation (40:11-17). And, in accordance with the interpretation which has been given of the other parts of the psalm. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO BOOKS OF GOD 40:8 "I delight to do Your will" What a radical change from I blame the Medio Fire and Psalm 104 for that. Although God established the sacrificial system, David knew that it was more than that. He sent His Son to offer Himself obediently on the cross on our behalf (as Ps. One of the more difficult pits to extract ourselves from are destructive habits. Interestingly, his ploy worked. It means finding God as our eternal treasure, so that we rejoice in all that He is, as well as in all that He does for us. 40:1), I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. Waiting on the Lord is a common theme in Scripture. He enabled them to conquer the powerful Canaanite nations and occupy the Promised Land. That is, his undertaking to save men by his own obedience unto death. The time referred to here, I apprehend, is that when the full effects of his having assumed the sins of the world to make expiation for them came upon him. How can I express it? ' We must always see that our lives are continually in a slimy, muddy pit. Constant situational awareness. The angels in heaven rejoice when _____ __________ comes to Christ. This is one of the great blessings we miss in this text. 3:12), many that profess to know Christ stumble and fall away when they get hit with various trials. I have preached righteousness: This word for good news in Hebrew (compare the root in Isa. Further, what God desires of us is not mere deeds. 10:5-7). As they seek earnestly and diligently, in Christ, and under the influences of his Spirit. We should all know by now that, we cannot trust the world or the people in it. There were undoubtedly times in the life of David to which this language would be applicable. David declares that he is able to put his trust in the Lord because of the great works that God has done in the past. Which he agreed to, had it in his mind, his heart was set upon it, and he cheerfully complied with it (John 10:18). It is a pleasure, not a chore, to do the will of the Lord. And which was written upon his heart, and which he perfectly obeyed. Otherwise, you too will be cut off (Romans 11:20-22). Shalom Verse 6 says 2 things God did not desire, what are they? Ps 58:4-9 - incantation - imagery - analogy - serpents - childbirth This article explores the similarities between Ps 58:4-9 and the imagery and logic found in incantatory texts from Syro-Mesopotamia.1 An initial point of departure for comparing incantations from Syro-Mesopotamia with Ps 58:4-9 is the work of the anthropologist Stanley J. Tambiah. The writer of Hebrews now explains how these words apply to Jesus: When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law), then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will. He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. Holiness Davids spirit here was encountered previously in Psalm 22:22-23. It is a song of praise. February 2022 On the personal level, David had seen God deliver him from the bear and the lion, not to mention from Goliath and from Sauls repeated attempts to kill him. PDF | The concept of God by the Hebrew mind is not projected in pompous psychological, philosophical, and theological complex terms. In the first half (40:1-10), David tells how God got him out of one pit and he sings Gods praise for doing so. Scripture is layered with images of sheep. 15:17). For example, Psalm 37:7: Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Again, Psalm 37:9: For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. And again, Psalm 37:34: Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. But, what does it mean to wait on the Lord? It is earnest, persevering prayer that is referred to. Powerful imagery can even provoke an emotional response in the reader. The Lords _________________ and ________ are not withheld from us. David never ceased telling others of the wonderful things the Lord had done. It is an active crying out to the Lord, trusting Him to answer because of His love and compassion. And on the way in which such objection may be met, see (psalm 40:3b). Our faith in God will move mountains. 16:7-9). Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.. Horrible pit the miry clay: The imagery describes his past hopeless and helpless situation; compare the language of (Psalm. Truly, up to the Lord is the only place to look in time of need and time to repent. It is continued supplication and hope when there seemed to be no answer to prayer, and no prospect that it would be answered. We will look at where these metaphors come from, how they have shaped biblical poetry, and what they reveal about God himself. Nature Jesus in this, had revealed the secret of the offerings and sacrifices and has made us able to hear and understand. Imagery can be literal or figurative. For on the execution of that design depended the salvation of a lost race. What kind of a song is verse 3 speaking of? Marla and I do a fair amount of hiking, and we have encountered a lot of mud. 40:6) is literally, My ears You have dug. It has wrongly been interpreted to refer to the masters piercing the servants ear with an awl (a different Hebrew word; Exod. Note the emphases on proper spiritual prerequisites for sacrifices (in Psalms 19:14; 50:7-15; 51:15-17; 69:30-31; Isa. He especially takes note when you are trying to get others into the kingdom of God. September 2022 King Asa was a classic example of a good man who fell into this trap. Or that in respect to success they might be like a waste and desolate field where nothing grows. We can do good deeds, be good moral people, and have changed lives, but that does not remove our sins. O, Lord, please forgive me. His message is just as alive today, as it was during that time. Naomi Psalm 40: When Youre in the Pit Related Media The late Supreme Court Justice, Louis Brandeis, said to his frustrated, impatient daughter, My dear, if you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. (Source unknown.) 1 Answers. Have surrounded me, or have beset me on every side. When he was about to endure the agonies of Gethsemane and Calvary. Let such as love thy salvation: Either Christ, who is Gods salvation (Gen. 49:18); and who is loved by his people, universally, superlatively, and sincerely. The implication is that all that God has done for us is so numerous that no one could remotely recount it all. Everything good that has ever happened in my life is because of His blessing me. Turn to the Lord. Psalm 40 continues to describe the despair David feels as the result of his own sins. Verse 10 says that it is by the second will that we have been sanctified. If it had hit, it would have wreaked major damage. The imagery indicates that the Lord rescued David from his enemies and provided security for him. In verses 9 and 10, he again affirms, I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; behold, I will not restrain my lips, O Lord, You know. The thanksgiving is offered (in verses 1-8). Psalm 40 is the 40th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I waited patiently for the LORD". And when God did rescue him, David made sure that God got all the praise. This could also, be a prophecy of the soldiers who came for Jesus in the garden. It does not mean that they could not repent. 1:7b-9), when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (1-5) Christ's work of redemption. Psalm 40:11 "Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy And it has respect not to (Deut. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. Its the worst of all pits to be in! Attitudinally, David understood the importance of what would be explicitly commanded through Paul (in Rom. To be an object of the thoughts of God; to be had in his mind; to be constantly in his remembrance; to be certain that he will not forsake us in our trouble. 50:5-7). David says (Ps. Imagery is a literary device that evokes the five senses to create a mental image. He can be the replacement to help us overcome our destructive habits. Psalm 40:9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.. We are to magnify the Lord and His great salvation to a world that shrugs Him off, while they waste their lives watching inane TV shows or pursuing riches that will perish at their deaths. Either by weeping, or by the mere pressure of suffering, he was so affected as to be almost deprived of the power of seeing. Many times we must deal with the pits of sin. I believe that the verse above is saying, it will be hard for them to find a way to repent of this. If the Lord does not deliver us, there is no hope. As he is bent on not withholding, or refraining, his lips (verse 9), so it is fitting that God should not withhold, or refrain his kindness. I agree with David, if I were to name off all the things the Lord has done for me, there would not be time to do any more Bible studies. Saint When it says that he came to do Gods will, it is speaking about Gods covenant or testament. But 2 Chronicles 16:12 reports, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. Its not that its wrong to go to doctors, but it is wrong to trust in doctors if your primary trust is not in the Lord. If you want to get a mate, why keep waiting on the Lord? October 2020 How imagery has been used in literature, movies, songs, and everyday speech. God by His grace had taken him from no footing to sure footing. Body imagery in psalm 40 Figures of Speech in Psalms | Sermon Preparation Tips In Is.40:11 he pictures the Shepherd's protection by pointing out his care for the most helpless of the flock. Psalm 40 is a song about the pits. I cry for the Lord to help the church today. We should all know by now that, we cannot trust the world or the people in it. When a million-man Ethiopian army invaded Judah, Asa called out to God and affirmed his trust in God alone to deliver them (2 Chron. And this verse, wherein he passeth from the singular number to the plural, may seem to be interposed as a wall of partition, between that which David speaks in his own person. O Lord, make haste to help me: Literally, Lord, make haste to my help (compare Psalms 22:19; 31:2; 38:22). Psalms 40:5 (KJV) Square Portrait Landscape 4K UHD. The only one worthy of our trust is the Lord. That seek after my soul to destroy it: That seek after my life; that would destroy me. Messianic If David turned to some human scheme for deliverance, then David and his ingenuity would get the credit. November 2020 What did some say when the earth began to shake and the light turned dark in the middle of the day at the crucifixion? Be pleased, O Lord to restore the church unto Yourself. 5. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He never turns a deaf ear to us either. Therefore, either David was prophesying and not speaking of himself in psalm 40, or the writer of Hebrews by inspiration applies Davids words to Christ also. The One Who Rescues Me. But God has lifted us out of that mire, set us on stable ground, and made us victorious. This imagery is expressed in two books, the book of life and the book of deeds. Ultimately however, he bent forward to receive my prayer. In Psalm 40:7-10 David shifted to himself, recounting the things that he had done for God. December 2022 Specifically, David showedhow God blesses those who serve him faithfully. Next: Psalm 41, Have Mercy on Me, West Palm Beach church of Christ4236 Haverhill RoadWest Palm Beach, FL 33417, Sunday Services9:30 am / 10:30 am & 6:30 pm. Web1 a : pictures produced by an imaging system b : the product of image makers : images also : the art of making images 2 : figurative language 3 : mental images especially : the products of imagination Example Sentences The book contains a great deal of sexual imagery. His sacrifice fulfilled and did away with any further need for sacrifice. All which is a matter of joy and gladness. We underestimate the impact that God can make in our lives. God will turn to us and hear our pleas when we draw near to him. That is, that they would not be successful, or would be foiled in their purposes. And yet I never heard any newsman giving thanks to God for preserving us from destruction! Christ came to fulfill or complete Gods covenant. Q. That he not only resolved to do, but delighted in doing, the will of God, or what God had commanded him and he had promised to do. ), Jesus told the disciples to expect trials. If you fell into a pit whose walls and bottom were mud, you would be in big trouble! Not only has this song come into my heart, but is springing forth from my mouth as well. As always, David was weighed down with the knowledge of his own sinfulness. Some versions say, You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you (ESV). David describes to us the great blessings of having a right relationship with God and putting our trust in God. He is the Rock of my salvation. As understood of the Messiah, this would refer to the times when his life was in danger, as it often was, before the full period had arrived for him to die (John 7:6; Matt. Commanded through Paul ( in Rom our lives his disease he did not then live happily ever after have! His grace had taken him from no footing to sure footing for deliverance, then David and ingenuity..., set us on stable ground, and which he perfectly obeyed he forward. 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